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| Dr. Chelsea Blackmore (Source: Archaeological Institute of America, as provided by Blackmore) |
Today’s blog post will discuss the significant work of Dr. Chelsea Blackmore, Senior Archaeologist at Albion Environmental Inc. She also has been an outspoken advocate of queer theory in archaeological theory and practice. In this post you will learn how it is that she came to be such an advocate and what her work has done to make archaeology a more equitable place and space for both past and present people.
Dr. Chelsea Blackmore came out as queer when she was 29 years old. Because she came out at that age, when she was a graduate student transitioning into the professional realm of the academy, she had concerns related to herself but also in her own research and professional settings she was and would be occupying. Realizing that there were too few resources for queer archaeological scholars and almost no discussion of queer theory or identities in research she embarked on her journey to change both. It became her mission to ensure that upcoming scholars had resources, and that queer theory and identities were understood, legitimized, and studied within archaeological contexts.
She quickly began talking with her peers and professors about the issues she was seeing, both within archaeological study and as a queer archaeologist. She realized and recognized that in archaeological theory the ideas of gender and sexuality are very rarely interrogated. As a graduate student she noted that it was (and still is to this day among many scholars) automatically assumed that when looking at gender and sexuality that cisgender and heterosexuality are the norms, intentionally or unintentionally ignoring the possibilities and evidence of third genders and the spectrum of sexual identities. Some of the lack of discussion on these topics was due to fear of retribution for considering these ideas, while others just simply did not consider these possibilities. Ultimately, by not considering these options among past people contemporary archaeologists were and are limiting their understanding of the past. Also, by defaulting to the modern-day standards of what is considered normal minorities living in the present are further obscured and pushed back into the closet because they are forced to feel valueless.
She also opened discussion about how queer anthropologists and archaeologist are treated, and how that treatment affects their ability to be successful within the discipline. This includes but is not limited to access to field sites (based on laws of the country or the perceptions of the field supervisors), treatment while out in the field, ability to collaborate in research and/or publish, etc. By engaging in these discussions she has made it easier for up and coming queer archaeologists to feel safer in the field and to have the challenges that they currently and will face acknowledged and addressed in appropriate ways.
Blackmore took this and other social justice approaches to the classroom, actively integrating them into her teaching practices. She was credited by her students and her peers for creating and fostering an open and safe learning environment for all students while she was an Assistant Professor at the University of California-Santa Cruz. She ultimately left that position in 2019 to pursue a career as the Senior Archaeologist at Albion Environmental Inc. This is a female owned cultural resources management firm based out of California. Even though she has left the academy her work and efforts remain instrumental in changing the dialogues within archaeological study and practice, creating opportunities to better understand the past and provide greater access to all archaeologists today.
Bibliography
Archaeological Institute of America. "Archaeologists You Should Know: Chelsea Blackmore." 2023. Archaeological Institute of America. Electronic. 10 May 2024.
Blackmore, Chelsea. "Editorial." 31 January 2018. Queer Archaeology. Electronic. 10 May 2024.
Blackmore, Chelsea, et al. "Queering Fieldwork: Difference and Identity in Archaeological Practice." 2016. Society for American Archaeology. Print. 10 May 2024.
Moodie, Megan. "Heartfelt Thanks to Chelsea Blackmore." 11 June 2019. University of California-Santa Cruz Anthropology. Electronic. 10 May 2024.
3 comments:
Dr. Chelsea Blackmore's work is truly inspiring and her contributions to archaeology, especially through queer theory, are highly commendable. She recognized the lack of resources and understanding for queer scholars in archaeology, and rather than accepting it as it was, she took action for change.
What I find particularly impressive is her courage in challenging the normative frameworks within archaeological theory. By questioning heterosexist and binary gender assumptions, she has expanded the boundaries of our understanding of the past and provided a more inclusive perspective. This makes archaeology a more inclusive discipline that not only understands past societies, but also reflects the diverse voices of today.
The fact that Dr. Chelsea Blackmore has brought these discussions into the educational arena is also a testament to her dedication to educating the next generation of scholars. The open and safe learning environment she created for her students must have had a long-lasting impact, encouraging them to think critically and inclusively. Although she has left academia, she continues to transform in new ways as a senior archaeologist at a woman-owned cultural resource management firm in California, and her legacy in both the academic and professional archaeology communities demonstrates how the combination of academia and advocacy can create tangible change She has been a member of the Society for the Advancement of Archaeology for more than 30 years.
Dr. Chelsea Blackmore’s work is a game-changer for archaeology. By bringing queer theory and inclusive practices into the field, she’s opening up important discussions about gender and sexuality in both past societies and modern archaeological practice. Her efforts to create a more equitable space for queer archaeologists, along with her impactful teaching, are paving the way for a more inclusive and accurate understanding of the past. It's inspiring to see someone so dedicated to making archaeology a safer and more welcoming space for everyone.
Kayuuyor Okolo
Such a sensitive topic such as LGBT incorporating queer theory and promoting the recognition of many gender and sexual identities in both historical and contemporary settings, Dr. Chelsea Blackmore's work plays a significant role in advancing more equitable and inclusive practices within archaeology. Her work has expanded the field's knowledge of the past and made settings safer and more encouraging for LGBT archaeologists.
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